A NEW health and well-being centre set to open at the refurbished Farnham Memorial Hall in West Street this spring has been granted a premises licence.

Waverley Borough Council’s application for a permanent alcohol and entertainment licence for the Memorial Hall was approved by the council’s own licensing ‘sub-committee A’ earlier this month.

The licence allows the hall to serve alcohol on and off the premises between noon and 11.30pm Monday to Thursday, midnight Friday and Saturday, 10pm on Sunday and 1am on New Year’s Eve.

It also permits the sale of late-night indoor refreshment, and live music and entertainment from 9am until midnight Monday to Saturday, 10am to 10pm on Sunday and 1am on New Year’s Eve.

Waverley applied for the licence in November and concerns were raised by nearby residents that late closing times and plans to sell alcohol off the premises “is a recipe for damage, litter and injury”.

But the committee agreed to grant the new licence as it did not consider that there was “sufficient substantiated evidence” to reject the application in its entirety.

Members did, however, amend the proposed opening hours to ease neighbours’ concerns - including an earlier ‘end of drinking up time’ of 10.30pm on Sundays - as well as stipulating 12 strict conditions by which the hall’s management must adhere.

In making its decision, the committee also noted that the Memorial Hall was under new management “which wanted to make a success of its renovated venue”. And the council, as applicant, indicated its willingness to work with the local community to prevent any problems.

Committee members also noted there had been no objections to the application from the police or other statutory consultees, and only one complaint had been made to Environmental Health in 2008 relating to the hall’s previous licence.

Speaking after the hearing, objector Patrick Webber said it was “no surprise that Waverley won the day” bemoaning the fact the council was allowed to play “judge and jury” as both applicant and licensing authority.

But he thanked the committee chairman Patricia Ellis for allowing residents to express their concerns and Farnham Residents councillors David Beaman, John Fraser and Jerry Hyman for their support.

Mr Webber also said the strict conditions are “very helpful to neighbours”, adding: “Press reports of rowdiness, violence and damage could do serious harm to the viability of this expensive project for Waverley and I am sure they will deal with any issues promptly.”

Mr Beaman, town councillor for Farnham Castle, said: “I am sure that the residents will be carefully monitoring the situation when the Memorial Hall opens in the spring to ensure that all times and conditions are adhered to.

“But in my opinion the decision that was reached by the sub committee was fair and acceptable.”